Automatic gun.



No. 693,472. l *Patented Apr; 29, |902.

. L. I.. '-DHIGGS.

AUTOMATIC GUN. Application med Ang. 24. 1397.

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(No Model.)

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HQ wf N0.i69s,472. 2 Patented Apr. 29, |902.

L..L umass. AUTDMATIC GUN.

:Applibation led Aug. 24. 1897.! (ummodevx.) 4 shwrs-shut 2.

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L. L; DHIGGS.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

(Apphcatxon led Aug 24 1897) IH: domus PETERS cu, mmmumo wfsnwcromvn. c,

(No Modell;

' Patenten Apr. 29, |902..

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L. L. DRIl'GS.-V

AUTOMATIC GUN.

Application filed Aug', 24. 1897.)

' (un Model.)

Nrrnn S'rn'rns Marrana einen.

LOUIS LABADIE DRIGGS, OF 1WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AS-

SIGNORTO DRIGGS-SEABURY GUN AND AMMUNI'IION COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY..

AUTOMATIC GUN.

srncrrronrron forming part of Letters Patent No. 698,472, dated Apen 29, 1902.

l Application iiled August 24,1897. Serial No. 649,369. (No modelo To all whom/t may concern:

Beit known thatL'LoUIs LABADIE Darcos,

invented certain newand useful Improvements in Automatic Guns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact'description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relateslto improvements in automatic revolving guns in which there are a plurality ofbarrels and in which each barrel recoils as it lires andex'erts a part of the energy of the recoil in moving the other bar.r

rels toward the iiring position.

My invention also consists of certain other novel features that wllbe more fullydescribed and claimed.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which the sameV parts are indicated throughout the several'views by the same characters. l

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of thegunv detached from its mount, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 represents a central vertical section through the gun along the line 2 2 of Fig.`5. Fig. 3 represents a view of the gun as seen from the muzzle. Fig. 4 represents a section alongthe linee/lof Figs. 1 and 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 5 represents a section along the line 5 5 of Figs. land` 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. G represents a section along the linei 6 6 of Figs. l and 2 and' looking in thedirection ofthe arrows. Fig.

v 7 represents an interior View of the two partsj which are hinged together to form the casing of the gun. l Fig. 8 represents a central vertical section through the gun-casingshown as removed frornthe gun and represents the cam-grooves therein. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic View of the cam-grooves as developed. Fig. 10 is aperspective View of one of the .barrels detachedfrom tho gun, parts `being .broken away. r Figli-is a longitudinal sec- `tionalview throughone of the barrels near the breechv thereof, showing the breech-block and firing-pin. Fig. 12 represents a section along the line l2 l2 of Fig. lland looking in 5o the direction of the arrows, and Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one of the sliding breechblocks, and Fig. let is a perspective view ofl one of the extractors.

In the several views the gun-mount and training and elevating gear are not shown;

but any suitable gun-mount may be adopted,

and the mount not being a part ofmyinventioni ,I have not considered it necessary to describe the same.

- The several operative parts in the breech of the gun areinclosed in a casing which is composed of? 'two parts A and A', hinged to- `getherras Yat cto, and connected together by vrods A2 and A3. gun-casingis preferably reduced in diameter,

The upper part A of the as at a, to' lighten the parts and form a bearing for the rear end ofthe spindle B. The rod A2 preferably extends the full length of the gun-casing on one side of the gun, while the rods `A3 are necessarily two or more in numberto avoid passing through the hopper M; but the methods of hinging the two parts of the gun-casing together may be varied at will so long as the idea is carried out that the upper part of the gun-casing may be lifted when desired to allow free access to the mechanism inclosed therein.

The lower part of the gun-casing is provided with brackets'A5, carrying trunnions A4, on which the gun is, pivoted in the usual way, while rigidity is given to the lower member of the gun-casing by stiening-ribs A6 and AS.` TheV front stiffening-rib A6 carries the ring A7, which may be either cast integrally therewith or rigidly attached thereto, as may bepreferred.

'A central hollow spindle B is rigidly held the key c and is preferably closed with a cap b3. The ring C is secured to this spindle B by means of the key c2. The barrels E have their cylindrical portions e and e' passed through cylindrical apertures in the rings O and C', and thus these barrels are allowed to movelongitudinally in the said rings. It will thus be obvious that if the hand-wheel D be turned, as when commencing to lire the gun, the barrels will be rotated about the axis of the gun. The portion of the gun-barrel surrounding the powder-chamber is also preferably cylindrical, as at e2, in order to obtain uniform strength about the axis of the bore. This portion of the gun-barrel is provided with a lug E2, which engages in the camgroove A9 in the gun-casing. (See Fig. 1l.)

The'gun-barrel consists of two principal portions, the barrel proper, comprising the cylindrical portions e2, e', and e, and the rear portion or heel,which carries the breech-block or firing mechanism. This rear portion is provided with a groove E", adapted to receive the cartridge and also to hold and guide the breech-block. The bottom of this semicircular groove E0 is scored out longitudinally, as at e0, to form a guide for the lug fo on the rear end of the breech-block F. The upper face of each barrel is rounded, as shown in Fig. 10, while the lower face is also rounded, as at c4, to fit snugly, but move freely on the spindle B. The sides of the heel of the barrel are preferably cut away, as at e5, whereby the friction of one barrel on the other is lessened and whereby the weight of the barrels is reduced somewhat. The eX- tractor G also slides in this longitudinal groove e and is provided with a hook g, which is adapted to engage beneath the flange of the cartridge, as shown in Fig. 11. The lug f of the breech-block engages in the slot g of the extractor and draws the same to the rea-r as the breech-block is drawn to the rear, as will be hereinafter more fully described. The extractor is preferably cut away, as at g', to give the requisite resiliency, the purpose of which is well known in the art. The breech-block is perforated to receive the firing-pin H, having the point 7?, and the shoulde'r 7L' and the rearwardly-extending arm H2, around which lit loosely the sleeves K and K', between which is held the firing-spring L. The sleeve K is screwed into the rear .end of the breech-block, closing the same, as shown in Fig. 1l. The breech-block is provided with a lugf2, engaging in the camgroove a, by means of which the block is withdrawn and pushed forward into place as the gun rotates about its axis, and the arm H2 of the firing-pin H is provided with a transverse cooking-arm H3, one of whose ends h4 engages in the longitudinal groove e0 in the barrel, while the opposite end h3 catches onto and is released bythe firing-wedge d2, as will be hereinafter more fully described. The upper portion of the bore of the barrel in rear of the cartridge-chamber is enlarged to form alongitudinal slot,as at e8,and this and the lower slot or groove e0 have wing-passages or bayonet-grooves e9, whereby the lugs f and f of the breech-block may be allowed to swing to the left or to the position locking the breech-block in the barrel, as indicated in Fig. l2. A similar groove @00 is provided at one side of the groove e0 to allow the lug fo of the breech-block F to pass into it, whereby the said breech-block is rmly held in position at the time of firing the gun.

A hopper M, having an outer flat side m, is secured to the upper member of the guncasing, and in this hopper the feed-wheel P, having hooked teeth p, is jourualed, as on the pin M'. The cartridges R are fed to the gun on a feed strip or belt Q, having pairs of flexible teeth q, holding the cartridges, as is well known in the art. The cartridges are from there guided into the gun, and the empty shells are guided out by means of curved plates T, connected together by the web T. These curved plates are provided with guidearms t to facilitate the passage of the cartridge into the gun and guide-arms t and t2 to facilitate the passage of the empty shells out of the gun. The barrel is provided with the lug E2, indented by the grooves c1), in which the teeth p of the feed-wheel P pass. This lug E3 bears against the cartridges seriamm and feeds the cartridges to the cartridgechamber of the barrel, at the same time turning the feed-wheel P through an angle corresponding to one tooth. Thus each barrel takes a cartridge from the feed-wheel and turns the latter in position to deliver a cartridge to the next barrel. The plates T project into the grooves et in the barrel, whereby any possibility of these plates catching in the cartridgeshell either when loaded or empty, and thus jamming in the gun, is obviated.

The grooves Agand aJare arranged as shown developed in Fig. 9, and the operation of the gun will best be understood by reference to this ligure. When the lug E2 of the barrel is at the position indicated by the numeral l in this Fig. 9, thelug f2'on the breech-block is at the position indicated by the numeral l0, and when in this position the cartridge would be in the groove Eo and partly entering the cartridge-chamber, while the breechblock would be about half-way home or halfway between the open and the closed position. As the barrel continues to revolve the lug E2 would reach the position 1X, while the cooking-arm H3 would just begin to ride over the cocking-wedge as. The parts would then be in the position shown in Fig. ll. A very slight further movement of the barrel about the axis of the gun will cause the cookingarm H3 to ride up over the cooking-wedge as and pass over-the releasing edge a02, and the spring L would throw the firing-pin forward, tiring the cartridge. It should be mentioned that before the cooking-arm H3 begins to ride up over the cocking-wedge a8 the lug f2 of the breech-block will engage the projection a7 in' IOO When the cartridge is fired, the lug E2 Will" be in the position indicated by the numeral 2 in Fig. 9,-While thelug]E2 will be in the position indicated by the numeral 20. i The shock of the discharge Will cause the barrel to recoil to the vrearfrom 2 to 3. Since the groove A9 is in the fixed casing, the barrel will revolve upon the axis of the gun. At the sametime the barrel is recoilin'g from2 toA 3 the breechblock also recoils; but the angle of the groove a9 from the point 200 to the point 30 being less acute than the angle from 20 to 200 a torsional motion is given' to the breech-block relative to the barrel',and this block is turned through a sufficient angle tounlock the same from engagementin-the barrel, and when the lug f2 reaches the position 30 the breech-block is'revolved far enough about its'aXis to be freely slidin the groove e0. At-the time that this barrel'and` the corresponding breech-block have arrived at the position Band 30 a second barrel has arrived at-the position? and 20 and operating'like the first" barrel revolvesthe first barrel to the position `4 and 40. In revolvingfrom 3 to 4 the lrstbarrel is cammed to the front by the groove A9 between these numbers 3 nand 4; but the breech-bloclcis held to the rear by that part of the groove a9 betweenthe points?)o and 40, and in this manner provision is made for the insertion of a fresh cartridge between the breech-block and the cartridge-chamber of the barrel; As the gun continues to revolve from 4 to l the barrel remains in the front position, While `the breech-block is pushed to the front by the acl tion ofthe cam-groove d, and is finally locked in Aposition by the further action of this groove after it brings up against the baseof the'cartridge. Itwill be seen that as the barrel returns to the initial position,as in passing from 3 to 4, the breech-block-reihains stationary,

. as in passing from Soto 40, and the extractor and soon, it vbeing only necessary that the Gr will'extract' the empty shell from thecartrdge-chamber,' and-as the'gun continues'to rotate this Vempty shell will be expelled beneath the plates T, as shown in Fig. 5. In or;

der to start the gun, it will be necessary .to

turn the hand-Wheel D sufficiently to fire the first cartridge, after which the gun'will be automatic in its action, each'cartridge bringing the gun into the' firing position for the next,

gun servants' keep the gunpointed on the object and keep it supplied with ammunition.

If itfbe desired-to use, practice charges only,

as with du mmies,a hand-crank' might be substitutedifor the Wheel D.

It Willbe seen that in thisilnproved revolving cannon 4the advantage of a plurality of barrels is obtained, Whereeaclrbarreld'oes` its own-share-of theworkand` may be used be omitted fromv the feed-belt.

`with that of the other Ythe gun Will be increased ina degree correspond'ing to the increase'in-the number of barrels. It will also be obvious that while I have shown four barrels that number may be increased or diminished.

It Will be obvious that the hand-wheel D serves also as aI iiy-Wheel, and if a sufficient rotary'velocity be imparted tothe spindle B this Iiy-Wheel will serve to assistin carrying the moving parts over a dead-center, such as might occur should one of the cartridges prove defective or should one or more of them By making this hand-Wheel of sufficient size a considerable rotary effect may be obtained thereby. This effect, it will be obvious, isaccumulated the aXisof the'gun.` l

"It will be notedthat each barrel is locked against rearward motion inthe guncasng a `large portion'of'the revolution ofthe spindle B and thatk this especially takesplace im'me` dately preceding the time When thevbarrel reachesthe ring'position. Furthermore, it Will bejobvious that thebreech-block is firmly locked in the barrel for an appreciable'inte'rval before the iiring-pinis 'cocked'and also for a considerable period after the firing-pin `has vplunged forward, striking the base ofthe cartridge. In'this Way danger to the moving partsfrom hanging fire is avoided.

It Willlbe noted as among thespecial features of this improvedgun that thelugs'vf" andf near the front end" of the breech-block are securely locked'in the banded grooves'e9 immediatelybefore 'and for an vappreciable intervalafterthe discharge of the cartriilge.

The fact that this breech-block is supported at its forward end inx immediate' proximity to the cartridge is of' especial advantage, as

ln'gun's of similar'type hithertomanufac'- `tu'red iheprincipal support for the breechblock has been at or near the'rear end there! of, causing a yielding effect, due to the resil-A iency of the breech-block, andhtending to injure the partsor to jam' the `cartridge' or cause the same tof jam in the gun oraffect the y properA action of the extractor;

.Iffat 'any `timeit be desired 'to obtain access tothemoving parts,asfor inspection or 1'epair,"it will be'asmplematt'er to Withdraw th'e'rod'A2 and swing the .uppe'rfportionA of the"guncasing about its hinges'on the other side.

parts rotating about Ioo Y 'It Willfbe"obviousfthat a greatfmany other' modificationslnight bemade"inthe'hereinf described apparatus which could be used without departing from the spirit-of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is- A 1. In an automatic gun, the combination with a gun-casing, a spindle journaled concentric with said casing, a plurality of barrels having rearwardly-extending heels grouped around said spindle and rotating therewith, guides mounted on said spindle and allowing said barrels to move longitudinally relative to said spindle, and interacting cam-surfaces between said barrels and said gun-casing, whereby as each barrel is tired, the said barrel recoils and rotates said spindle, substantially as described.

2. In an automatic gun, the combination with a gun-casing, a spindlejournaled concentric with said casing, a plurality of barrels having rearwardly-extending heels grouped around said spindle and rotating therewith,

guides mounted on said spindle and allowingV said barrels to move longitudinally relative to said spindle, and interacting cam-surfaces between the exterior of said barrels and the interior of said casing, whereby said barrels cause said spindle to rotate about its axis as each barrel recoils, and means for loading cartridges into said barrels for iii-ing the same, substantially as described.

3. In an automatic gun, the combination with aguil-casing, a spindle journaled concentric with said casing, a plurality of barrels having rearwardly-extending heels grouped around said spindle and rotating therewith, guides mounted on said spindle and allowing said barrels to move longitudinally relative to said spindle, and interacting cam-surfaces between the exterior ot' said barrels and the interior of said casing, whereby said barrels are caused to rotate said spindle about its axis as the barrel recoils, and means operated by the rotation of the said barrels about said spindle for feeding the cartridges to and for ejecting the same from the said barrels, and antomatically-operated means for firing said cartridges, substantially as described.

4. In an automatic gun, the combination with a group of barrels adapted to rotate about a common axis, and each provided with a rearwardly-projecting heel with slots therein, of a breech-block mounted in said heel and lugs or projections engaging in said slots, means operated by the shock of discharge for rotating said group of barrels about said common axis, and for moving said breech-block in said slots from the open to the closed positionand vice versa, means for loading said barrels, a spring-operated ring-pin mounted in each of said breech-blocks, and means for automatically cooking and releasing the same substantially as described.

5. In an automatic gun, the combination with a group of barrels adapted to rotate about a common axis, and each provided with a rear- Wardly-projecting heel with slots therein, of a breech-block mounted in said heel with lugs or projections engaging in said slots, means operated by the shock of discharge for rotating said group of barrels about said common axis and for moving said breech-block in said slots from the open to the closed position and vice versa, means also operated by the shock of discharge for loading said barrels seratt'm, a spring-operated tiring-pin mounted in each of said breech-blocks, and means vfor automatically cocking and releasing the same, substantially as described.

6. In an automatic gun, the combination with a group of barrels adapted to rotate about a common axis but to recoil parallel to said axis, and each provided with a rearwardlyprojecting heel with slots therein, of a breechblock mounted in said heel with lugs or projections engaging in said slots, means operated by the recoil of each barrel for rotating the said group of barrels through a given angle about said common axis, and for moving said breech-block in said slots from the open to the closed position and vice versa, means for loading said barrels, a spring-operated firing-pin mounted in each of said breechblocks, and means for automatically cocking and releasing the same, substantially as described.

7. In an automatic gun, the combination with a group of barrels adapted to rotate about a common axis but to recoil parallel to said axis, and each provided with a rearwardlyprojecting heel with slots therein, of a breechblock mounted in said heel with lugs or projections engaging in said slots, means operated by the recoil of each barrel for rotating the said group of barrels through a given angle about said common axis, and for moving said breech-block in said slots from the open to the closed position and vice versa, means operated by the recoil for loading said barrels, a spring-operated tiring-pin mounted in each of said breech-blocks and means for automatically cooking and releasing the same, substantially as described.

8. In an automatic revolving cannon the combination with a gun-casing, a spindle journaled concentric with said casing, a plurality of barrels grouped around said spindle and adapted to rotate therewith and valso to move longitudinally relative to said spindle, each barrel being provided with a rearwardlyprojecting heel with slots therein, of a breechblock mounted in said heel with lugs or projections engaging in said slots, a spring-operated tiring-pin mounted in each of said breech-blocks, interacting cam-surfaces provided between said barrels, said breechblock, said tiring-pin and said gun-casing, whereby as each barrel is fired, the said barrel recoils and rotates said spindle, and the breech-block is brought from the closed to the open position and the firing-pin is operated, and means for loading cartridges into said barrels7 substantially as described.

IOO

IIO

9. In an automatic revolving cannon the combination with a gun casing, a spindle journaled concentric with said casing, a plurality of barrels grouped around said spindle and adapted to rotate Vtl '1erewith, and also to move longitudinally relative to said spindle, each barrel being provided with a rearwardlyprojecting heel with slots therein, of a breechblock mounted in said heel with lugs or projections engaging in said slots, a spring-operated tiring-pin mounted in each ofsaid breech-blocks, interacting cam-surfaces provided between said barrels, said breechblock, said firing-pin and said gun-casing, whereby as each barrel is tired, the said barrel recoils and rotates said spindle, the breechblock is brought from the closed to the open position and the iiring-pin is operated, and means operated by the rotation of the said barrels about said spindle for feeding the ,cartridges to and for ejecting the same from the said barrels, substantially as described. l0. In an automatic revolving cannon the combination with aguncasing,a spindle journaled-concentricwith said casing, a plurality of barrels grouped around said spindle and adapted to rotate therewith, and also to move longitudinally relative to said spindle, each barrel being provided with a rearwardly-projecting heel with slots therein, of a breechblock mounted in said heel with lugs or projections engaging in said slots, a spring-operated iring-pin mounted in said breech-block, interacting Vcam-surfaces provided between said barrels, said breech-block, said tiringpin and said gun-casing, whereby as each barrel is tired, the said barrel recoils and rotates said spindle, the breech-blockis brought from the closed to the open position, and the firingpin is operated, and means operated by the rotation of the said barrels about said spindle for feeding the cartridges to and for ejecting the same from` the said barrels, substantially as described. i

ll. In an automatic revolving cannon, the combination with a gun-casing provided with cam-grooves therein, a spindle journaled concentric with said casing a plurality of barrels grouped around said spindle and adapted to `rotate :therewith and also to move longitudinally relative to vsaid spindle, each barrel lbeing provided with a rearwardly-projecting heel withV slots therein, of a breech-block mounted in said heel with lugs or projections engaging in said'slots,a spring-operated firingpin mounted in said breech-block, lugs on said barrels, on said breech-blocks and, on said tiring-pins engaging in said cam-grooves in said gun-casing, wherebyl as each barrel is tired, the said barrel recoils and rotates said spindle and operates said breech-block and said tiring-pin, substantially as described.

12. In an `automatic revolving cannon, ,the .combination with a gun-casing provided with cam-grooves on the interior thereof, and a spindle journaled in said casing, of a plurality of barrels groupedabout said spindle,

and adapted to move longitudinally relative thereto, each barrel being provided with a ,rearwardly-projecting heel with slots therein of a breech-block mounted in said heel with lugs or projections engaging in said slots, a spring-operated firing-pin mounted in said breech-block, lugs on the exterior of said barrels, on said breech-blocks and on said firingpins engaging the cam-grooves in said casing, whereby said barrels cause said spindle to rotate about its axis as the barrel recoilsand said breech-blocks and tiring-pins are operated, and means operated by the recoil for loading cartridges into said barrels, substantially as described.

13. In anl automatic revolving cannon the combination with a gun-casing provided with journal-bearings and cam-grooves, of a'spindle journaled in said bearings, a plurality of barrels grouped around said spindle and adapted to rotate therewith and also to move longitudinally relative to said spindle, each barrel being provided with a rearwardly-projecting heel with slots therein, of a breechblock'mounted in said heel with lugs or pro- Y stantially as described.

14. In an automatic revolving cannon, the combination with a substantially cylindrical shell or casing provided on theinnersurface thereof with two cam -grooves of varying pitch, the front cam-groove being essentially V-shaped when developed, and the rear camgroove having a small part of its length parallel to oneot the sides of the V of the front groove and then approaching said side at a slight inclination, with a, slight elevation in one `portion of the said rear groove, of a spindle journaled in the center of the cylindrical shell,longitudinally-movable barrels grouped about said spindle and each having a rearwardly-extending heel with a longitudinal slot therein and slots transverse to said longitudinal slot, a lug or projection on each of said barrels engagingin the front cam-groove, and a breech-block mountedin rear of the cartridge-chamber, and having lugs adapted to engage in said slots, and also a lug adapted to engage insaid rear cam-groove, substantially as described.

15. Inran automatic revolving cannonthe combination with a substantially cylindrical shell or casing provided on the inner-surface thereof with two cam-grooves of varying pitch, the frontcam-groove being essentially V-shaped when developed, and thejrear camgroove having a small part of its lengthparallel to one of the sides of the V of the front groove and then approaching said side at a slight inclination, with a slight elevation in IOO IIO

one portion of the said rear groove, and a slots, and also a lug adapted to engage in Cooking-Wedge also provided o n the interior said rear cam-groove, and a spring-operated of the casing, of a spindle journaled in the firing-pin having a'ooeking-arm adapted to 15 center of the cylindrical shelhlongitudinallyengage said cooking-Wedge, substantially as 5 vmovable barrels grouped about said spindle described. I

and each havingarearWardly-extending heel In testimony whereof I affix my signature With a longitudinal slot therein and slots I in presence of two Witnesses. transverse to said longitudinal slot, a lug` or projection on each of said barrels engaging LOUIS LABADIE DRIGGS 1o in the front cam-groove, and a breech-block Witnesses:

mounted in rear of the cartridge-chamber, A. Y. LEECH, Jr., and having lugs adapted' to engage in said V. C. TASKER. 

